Primary Grows Up to Big Time, Herb Meyer Opines, Illegal Immigrant Rights Initiative, and more

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Greetings Conservatives!

 

If last week’s newsletter was short, this week is long. And every single thing is absolutely necessary. I thought for a long time about what I could cut and couldn’t think of anything more.
 

Primary Report

The primary has come and gone. If you have not yet heard the results, you can look them up for our county on the Elections Office website here.

For the state you can go to the Secretary of State’s website here.

Likely the most significant thing was that State Senate Candidate Englund did advance to the general election. Her opponent had an 8 point lead which is concerning, but it’s close enough for her to have a real shot. Her opponent’s quite likely disingenuous opposition to the state income tax probably is part of it (guess how long that opposition will last if she’s elected).

Seattle Times report on this: http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/washington-state-senate-race-results/

Englund’s press release: https://jinyoungenglund.com/press/2017/8/1/jinyoung-lee-englund-advances-to-november-general-election

On the subject of elections: if you were ever wondering why electronic voting is a terrible idea, consider this video entitled “Hackers Target 30 Voting Machines at Defcon.” A group of hackers show how electronic voting machines could be attacked, and how votes can be changed. Cnet Reports. The bookFuture Crimesby Marc Goodman also discusses the vulnerability of computer systems in general, and discusses electronic voting.

Herb Meyer: It’s Panic Time for Vladimir Putin

Many of you look forward to Herb Meyer’s publications. He was our Lincoln Day speaker for 2017, and I think about half the people there were attending specifically to hear him. Herb is making waves across the country right now with his article in The Federalist, “Why It’s Panic Time For Vladimir Putin: At precisely that moment when his country’s economic prospects are tanking, Vladimir Putin is hobbled with a spy service that’s more like Inspector Clouseau than the KGB.”

The American Thinker also notes that the “WSJ editorial board agrees with Herbert E. Meyer in AT on North Korea… All the available strategies for dealing with the North Korean nuclear threat seem flawed, save one that has been largely ignored: overthrow from within.”

This is very important in light of North Korea’s improving missile capability. It’s a rough time to be South Korean. Also, very rough for the people on the commercial airplane that flew over the spot where a North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile would strike 10 minutes later (USA Today).
 
In any case, we would like to congratulate Mr. Meyer for his most recent contribution to the national debate on security.
 

What the Dems call “Immigrant Rights Ordinance”

Over the last few weeks you may have heard a local “immigrants rights” talking about a great victory. I had a long thing written about how pernicious and offensive the use of “immigrant rights” to describe “illegal immigration rights,” but there really isn’t space. The bottom line is that they have indeed succeeded in getting an ordinance on the SJC ballot declaring our county a “sanctuary county” for November.

In addition to this, they are trying to get the county council to adopt this ordinance before the election in November. On Tuesday, August 15, at 9:15 am a San County Council public hearing will take place in the Council Chambers at 55 Second Street in Friday Harbor on the proposed initiative (details here, scroll to the bottom). They then have until the ballots are printed to decide whether to adopt the ordinance. If they do not, then it will be on the ballot. The Dems credit Rick Hughes with putting this on the agenda. 

The Island Guardian covered this in some detail here. See also Lopez Rocks here. There is also an article in Sound Publishing’s papers, as with the Sounder here Write emails to the county council. Contact the media. Show up on the 15th and speak up! Advocate! Many useful links with contact information are posted here.

Note that the deadline to be published for Wednesday’s edition is Friday at noon (Sound Publishing — Weekly, Journal, Sounder). To be read before the 15th, you will need to write by this Friday. 

 
“Con” Statements Needed
 
According to the Auditor, there are 4 statements that need “con” statements: (You can read the auditor’s statement here)

 

(1) and (2) The Orcas Island School District has placed two measures on the ballot. One is a proposition authorizing the district to issue bonds for a variety of facility improvements;  the second is a proposition for a six-year capital projects levy.
(3) The Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District is proposing a one-year levy for 2018 in the amount of $105,000.
(4) Finally, a citizens’ initiative concerning immigration will go to the voters in November unless adopted by the County Council before then
These are due by the 18th. If you are interested, let me know, and I will help connect you with people who also interested. Don’t assume someone else will. Often we can’t find people to do this, and we can’t do all of it ourselves. 
 
It’s worth noting that the Republican Party’s main purpose is to coordinate efforts, share information, and provide support so that we can’t be picked off one by one. It isn’t to circumvent or obviate the obligation of citizens everywhere to stand up for what they believe. 
 
Local and State News
 
If you’re wondering why the haze over the last week, it’s because of fires in Canada — and no Pacific breeze. Seattle Times reports.
 
Werling-Sandwith and Bevens take lead in the SJI primary school board election. Journal Reports. Bevins unfortunately has a similar name as the woman charged this week for embezzlement, Mary Blevins, but they are definitely not the same person (Journal here)
 
Hayely Day noted the economic pain that the ferry failures cost in an article titled “A drop in ferries means a drop in island sales
 
The Islands Weekly hasn’t posted a new letter in a month. The did, however, post my editorial this week here.
 
There was a guest column in the Islands Weekly titled “Emergency Medical Services and UW Medicine.” In it they note that emergency services were not a part of the new agreement with UW for the medical center on Lopez. Instead, all urgent care will be handled by EMS. If you live on Lopez, you need to know about this.
 
There was a letter to the editor criticizing the Planning council for having a lot of men. Letter here. In a rare moment of editorializing in the news section, may I mention the following: 
  • There are dozens of vacancies for various boards across the county.
  • We beg people to participate and do their duty to their community by giving back. They were the ones who showed up. They should be applauded for doing so. It would be great to have more women, but neither women nor the board should be criticized if there are not. 
  • There is a certain sense of entitlement in our country (and in democracies everywhere), a sense that we are owed good leadership. We are not. Rather, we each owe the duty to leadership, and to participate. If someone objects to who is on a certain council, show up and be a part of it.

National News

Yes, you read that right. I am, for once, posting some national news links, since so much of this episode deals with national news. Not that I don’t care about national news, but it’s usually covered really well elsewhere. 

“True Socialist: Apparently Bernie Sanders Is Stealing His Neighbor’s ‘Washington Post'”. I researched this some and couldn’t find any indication that it was anything other than true. Doesn’t mean it is. But it is very funny either way. Daily Wire reports.

“Study: 8,471 Cases of Double Voting Uncovered in 21 States.” Brietbart reports. This was actually a lot lower than I expected. There are 320 million people in the United States.

“Ending the Uniparty by Restoring Regular Order.” Rodmartin reports. This describes how the “regular order” whereby a law is reviewed in a committee then sent to the floor has been replaced by omnibus bills designed to force legislation through.

 County Calendar

 Eastsound Plan Review Committee Meeting
August 3, 2017, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM @ Eastsound Station 21
SJC Council Meeting –

2018 Budget Retreat
August 7, 2017, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM @ Parks and Fair Admin Office Meeting Room

SJC Council Tuesday Meeting
August 8, 2017, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM @ Council Hearing Room

Ferry Advisory Committee
August 9, 2017, 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM @ Orcas Ferry Landing Meeting Room

Citizens Stormwater Advisory Committee Meeting
August 9, 2017, 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM @ Town of Friday Harbor Fire Hall Meeting Room

Human Services Advisory Board
August 14, 2017, 11:45 AM - 1:15 PM @ Large Legislative Conference Room

SJC Council Tuesday Meeting
August 15, 2017, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM @ Council Hearing Room

SJC Fair
August 16-19
 
 

Nathan Butler

Chair, San Juan County Republican Party
 
“No matter how conservative your views may be, unless you do something about it you really aren’t that conservative.”